1 big ADV bike or 2 lesser (dual sport + street)

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I've got a 650 Versys currently, and it's not going anywhere. But I do think I'm going to add a drz400/650 to the garage next year. I'm tired of beating the Versys off-road but I just can't seem to stay on pavement or gravel.
If you can afford it, you can't beat having two bikes for two separate purposes.


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I'm thinking of adding a wr250r to compliment the big naked. I've thought about a 650 single but everywhere I read the wr (and specifically this 250) beats it out.

used f800gs and tiger 800xc prices are also becoming very tempting...
 
I've got a 650 Versys currently, and it's not going anywhere. But I do think I'm going to add a drz400/650 to the garage next year. I'm tired of beating the Versys off-road but I just can't seem to stay on pavement or gravel.
If you can afford it, you can't beat having two bikes for two separate purposes.
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this.
It realy depends in Ontario your tolerance for getting a decent light off road bike to off road areas.

I have CBF1000 for the fun and touring and Vstrom 650 but it tours pretty well and is okay on dual track and off pavement as opposed to off-road.

In Australia I want to downsize my KLR650 to a DRZ400 or 650 to be lighter, better clearance and suspension and easier to pick up.

I tend to light intermediate bikes so I'd do a 650 Vstrom or Gs800 for touring and off pavement and get something for single track and gnarlier forest stuff.

These are going for $3100 new delivered and seem a capable 250

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http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforu...a-chance-CSC-RX3-Cyclon&p=2370139#post2370139

300 lb and some decent features - kid and I will share it tho I really wanted it for Australia. 1 year warranty and some factory options coming ...won't be available until May in Canada but right now it's $800 off retail for early adopters.
 
DECIMIS said:
Great reply, thank you. I appreciate you sharing your personal experience and expertise. Ganaraska is very close to me, so some real offroad is available if I desire. If I go the two bike route, maybe I'll downsize the dual sport to a 250 or 400.
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So if you intend to ride in the Ganaraska get 2 bikes. One that fits your needs on-road and a real dirt oriented dual sport like a KTM, Husky or WR250 and CRF250 that you can ride up to the forest and still enjoy in the single track trails.

This is what I did (because I'm close to the Ganaraska too) and it has worked out well.
 
2 (or more) bikes. This is what I did as well. Dedicated track bike so I can ride track without worrying about binning my "pretty" street ride, as well as a fun street ride (that I've often thrown bags on and gone 3000k trips with. Currently in the hunt for a cruiser for riding comfy with my Harley buddies and for daytrips with the gf. Also looking at moving close to the ganny and if I do i'll be adding dirtbikes.
 
Thanks for the continued replies. Really appreciated and I'm reading them all, considering everything everyone says.

You all my have helped me out. As of this morning, I think I should go the two bike route, but not right away. Get the small dual sport, and keep saving for another year or two for the big ADV bike.

I think this is what I really want - I just don't want to wait. Good problems, I know :)
 
Honda has a new 1000 ADV coming out. I believe its called the Africa??? 3 nice colour schemes...
Im betting its pretty refined so the road portion should still be fun ;)
 
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I wouldn't hesitate to consolidate into a Vstrom. Those are extremely capable bikes ... i spend a lot of time on advrider and i'll tell you that the vstrom and dr is probably the most popular bikes over there.
 
I think it depends on what you want to do.

If you want to do a lot of long distance with a some off road - desert, gravel, fireroads, etc. then the Super10 would be a great choice.

If its mainly off road, single track, the Ganny, etc. Then a dual purpose would be better and you can ride there. As MacDoc said I would actually stay away from a dirt bike for trail riding. Its built for track and/or racing and will need a frequent rebuild as its a performance engine. Much better off with a dual sport, even if you trailer it.
 
One bike for two purposes is going to come with compromises. All depends on how much you're willing to compromise. A DR is "capable" of going down a single track but a true dirtbike can be thrown sideways off a tabletop. A 1190 Adventure is "capable" of doing the twisties but not like a GSXR. All depends on how you like to ride.
 
I'll throw a spanner in the works....I don't always know where I'm going to be going when I head out on a tour and often I'll see a nice off road track that I can explore. Having a good compromise 1 bike for all helps here. If you always know you are going to do trails one day and long on pavement another then get 2.
 
Lots of good feedback here, and I agree with a lot of it. What I have learned is that compromises get made until you hit the magic number of motorcycles, which is 5-7.

So consider the compromises that work for you. If you go for one bike, consider the DL650 VStrom, with an Elka shock on the rear and a Traxxion Dynamixs kit on the front, with the the appropriate armour.

You'll get a great road bike, a very capable touring bike and a bike that can do it all except single track and sand.

That will let you figure out where you were wrong about your compromises. For example, are you doing as much dirt as you thought? As much touring? Since the DL650 holds value well, resale should let you recoup more of the $ you put into it for the next round.

And there will be a next round. And one after that. Because you don't own 7 bikes.

Yet.
 
You know what guys – I think this thread is actually helpingme! So thank you all for your continuedreplies. I think I’m able to reallyidentify the root of my problem/indecision – comfort.

So I know what I like to ride – twisty tarmac roads, andreally rural backroads and fire routes.

All the two bike recommenders are right about having a bikeproperly suited for these environments is best and most enjoyable. The problem for us living in the GTA isgetting to and from these locations – which are often at least 1+ hour away,with really good stuff even further.

The big ADV bike is a compromise in both these areas, but itgets me there and back in comfort.

CruisinGirl and Clem have suggested at the true solution forme I think – 2 bikes, and use your car to trailer them to your desired ridinglocations. Heck, I’m sure it’s easy loadingand unloading bikes, I’d even trailer my street bike into Haliburton/Muskoka fora days riding up there.

(Maybe I could even do some really good stuff in the US likethis – but I digress)

So without starting a new thread about cars and trailers, I’lljust continue in here off topic.
I own a Honda Civic, trailer hitch seems to be noproblem. Quick internet search I find alot, and I see civics with hitches all the time.

I’ll search around the internet today, but does anyone haveany recommendations/suggestions about the smallest/lightest trailer suitablefor transporting 1 – 2 motorcycles? Ijust say two to keep things open a bit
 
Royal Distributing carries a 4x8 folding trailer for $700 (link). You can get the same thing south of the border at Harbor Freight for much cheaper, but it does require some mild deception if you want to avoid the RIV vehicle import process (import it as trailer parts, rather than as a trailer, and register it as homebuilt).
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